Tyler Cribbs, Boy With Limited Mobility, Finds A Friend In Foal With Similar Disability (VIDEO)

A little boy has become best friends with a foal after discovering that they both share similar disabilities.

Judd, a miniature horse born less than two months ago, has a condition that inhibits his ability to walk. Laxity in the tendons of his two front legs means he can't support his weight without the help of splints.

His caretakers at Grantville, Pa.'s nonprofit Capital Area Therapeutic Riding Association are accustomed to providing therapeutic horse riding for people with disabilities, but they made a special exception or Judd.

"We were offered an opportunity to offer therapy to a horse. The horse has been giving the therapy; it's our turn to give therapy back," CATRA's Ben Nolt told WHTM. Judd now gets regular physical therapy and and requires leg support.

They also found a companion for Judd in Tyler Cribbs, a local boy who needs assistance to walk. His mother, Heather Cribbs, told the news source that he and the foal are now best of friends.

"For Tyler to have an animal that is akin to him, it helps him want to do better because he sees the animal strengthened by the braces," she told WHTM.

SAFE Act

The Safeguard American Food Exports "SAFE" H.R.1942 is the current bill proposed in the House and Senate to protect American horses from slaughter. PLEASE contact your legisltors and ask the to cosponsor and support SAFE.

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Declan Bio

Declan is honored to be the 2012 ASPCA's Humane Kid of the Year and the first ever recipient of the ASPCA Junior Equine Angel Award. Declan is also an ASPCA Junior Equine Welfare Ambassador.

After hearing about the inhumane and cruel practice of horse slaughter, now ten-year-old Declan, decided he needed to raise his voice. He created Children 4 Horses, to spread the word about horse advocacy issues and worked diligently with the Million Horse March campaign to collect letters from children to inspire lawmakers to end the slaughter of American horses.

Declan’s dedication to horse advocacy brought him to the nation’s capital twice, where he represented over 1,000 children from the United States by presenting the letters to legislators in Congress. While in Washington DC, Declan met with Congressman Frank Guinta of New Hampshire, where he shared his opposition to the inhumane treatment of horses and subsequently garnered the Congressman’s co-sponsorship of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (S.1176/H.R.2966).

Declan also joined forces with the “Horses on the Hill” campaign, speaking before celebrities, Congressmen and Senators to lobby against horse slaughter and advocate for the protection of horses under S.1176/H.R.2966. In addition to his three Washington DC visits, Declan testified at a hearing for a bill opposing horse slaughter at the New Hampshire State House in January, 2012.